5 Common Types of Dental Negligence

Dental negligence claims are made all the time as a result of improper care from a dentist. Many dental negligence cases leave patients injured or with serious medical issues. Some patients may seek a second opinion from another dentist if they are improperly diagnosed or mistreated. Here are 5 common types of dental negligence to be aware of. 

Failure to Diagnose

The first common type of dental negligence is when the dentist fails to diagnose a medical issue. Potential issues could be cancer or an oral disease which could become serious if left untreated. If the patient were to get a second opinion and another dentist finds an issue, the first dentist is in the wrong. It is unlawful for the dentist to overlook a life-threatening disease, which could put the patient in harm’s way. 

Improper Diagnoses

The second type of dental negligence is when a dentist improperly diagnoses the patient. Once the dentist notices there is an issue, they may assume it is something other than what it really is. They will then preform treatments to fix the issue that they believe is the problem. Not only could this make the patient’s condition worse, but will prolong proper treatment. 

Perform Unnecessary Treatments

The third type of dental negligence is when a dentist performs unnecessary medical treatments. When a patient goes in for their yearly cleaning, the dentist may tell them that they need to have a cavity filled or a crown put on their tooth. The patient may not realize that the dentist is filling a tooth that is perfectly healthy. This violates standard medical care because they are charging the patient for work that is not necessary. 

Anesthesia Issues

The fourth type of dental negligence is when there is issues with anesthesia. If the patient were to have a root canal or multiple teeth pulled, anesthesia may be recommended to reduce the patients pain. If the anesthesia is administered incorrectly, the patient could have heart and nerve damage. Anesthesia should never be administered unless there is a certified and experienced anesthesiologist there.   

Inflict Injury On the Patient

The fifth type of dental negligence is when the dentist injuries the patient. When a dentist is working on a patient they may mishandle tools that could lead to severe injuries such as oral nerve damage, jaw problems, oral lacerations, or infection. These injuries can be extremely painful and lead to more severe medical problems. If the dentist neglected operating carefully, they have violated proper medical care.

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